Question 1: Define the term 'feudalism' and explain its significance in medieval Europe.

Answer: Feudalism was a social and economic system where land was owned by nobles and worked by peasants or serfs. It structured medieval society, with loyalty and land exchange being central to relationships.

Question 2: Describe the role of a lord in the feudal system. What responsibilities did they have?

Answer: A lord owned large areas of land, protected his vassals and peasants, administered justice, and collected taxes or rents from those living on his land.

Question 3: Explain what a vassal was and how their relationship with a lord was formed.

Answer: A vassal was a noble or knight who pledged loyalty to a lord in exchange for land or protection. Their relationship was formalized through a ceremony called 'homage' and 'fealty.'

Question 4: Identify the main duties of a knight within the feudal hierarchy.

Answer: A knight's duties included defending the lord’s land, serving in military campaigns, and upholding the code of chivalry.

Question 5: Describe the living conditions of a peasant or serf on a medieval manor.

Answer: Peasants or serfs lived in simple cottages, worked long hours on the lord’s land, and had few personal freedoms. They paid rents or gave a share of their produce to the lord.

Question 6: Draw a simple diagram showing the basic structure of feudal society. Include at least four social classes and their relationships.

Answer: A correct diagram would show the king at the top, followed by nobles/lords, then knights/vassals, and peasants/serfs at the bottom, with arrows indicating the flow of land, loyalty, and protection.

Question 7: What was the main purpose of the manor system in medieval Europe?

Answer: The manor system organized agricultural production and provided economic self-sufficiency for the local community, with the lord's estate serving as the center of economic and social life.

Question 8: Explain how the concepts of loyalty and protection were central to feudal relationships.

Answer: Loyalty was expressed through oaths of allegiance from vassals to lords, while protection involved lords defending their vassals and peasants from external threats, creating a reciprocal relationship.

Question 9: Describe one way in which the feudal system affected the daily lives of ordinary people.

Answer: Ordinary people, such as peasants, had to work the lord’s land and follow his rules, which affected their freedom and daily routines, often limiting their personal choices.

Question 10: Discuss the decline of feudalism and mention one factor that contributed to this change.

Answer: Feudalism declined due to factors like the growth of towns and trade, which created a more money-based economy, reducing the dependence on land and vassal relationships.